Radiotelephony, radiotelegraphy, and the like.



W. TORIKATA, E. YOKOYAMA & M. KITAMURA.

RADIOTELEPHONY, RADIOTELEGRAPHY, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18. l9l3.

1,186,455. Patented June 6,1916

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'WIOHI TORIKATA, OF AKITA, EITARO YOKOYAMA, OF SAKAI, AND MASAJ'IRO KITAMURA, OF TOKYO, JAPAN.

RAIDIOTELEPHONY, RADIOTELEGRAPHY, AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed July 18, 1918. Serial No. 779,850.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WICHI TORIKA TA, residing at No. 224 Hanaoka-mura, Klta- Akita-gun, Akita-ken, Japan, ErrARo Yoko- YAMA, residing at No. 1 Matsugashita, M1- kunimachi, Sakai-gun, Fukui-ken, Japan,

and MASAJIRO KITAMURA, residing at No..

- telegraphy and like purposes.

The special feature of our invention is the adoption of an equilibrator and a selfstarting device to a spark-gap for producing high frequency currents for use in radiotelephony and also radio-telegraphy and like purposes.

It is known that in ordinary spark-gaps connected to an oscillation circuit, the high frequency current generated undergoes changes in its intensity, caused by the deformation of the electrodes or by changes in the dielectrics or by fluctuations in the feeding current -.or similar causes.

For the practical production of high frequency currents, we have found such spark gaps that work after the method known as the Wiens spark-gap highly eflicient in energy, but owing to the small clearance between electrodes of such spark-gaps, small deformations of the electrode material and other causes produce large fluctuations in the energy of the high frequency current.

in one example below, but state that each device has alsobeen found to fulfil itsspecial duty when used alone in connection with a spark-gap. v

The figure gives an example of an. equili-- bra-tor andself-starting devlce adapted to a spark-gap, as we have found it specially adapted to use in wireless telephony and telegraphy.

In the'figure C and D are the termlnals of a direct current source, R is a resistance, F an inductance, H a condenser, LM an oscillation transformer, A an aerial wire, E ground, T a

telephone transmitter, W an electro-magnet, both O and I armatures to W, the former acting as self-starter and the latter as equilibrator, Z a metallic contact point on the armature O, N a fixed metallic contact point against Z and G the oscillation-gap with electrodes.

In rest we adjust the equilibrator, so that the two electrodes are in mechanical touch or have a very small clearance and the selfstarting device so that the contacts are closed.

On connecting C and D with an electric current source, a current will flow in the circuit D F W 0 Z N R C but not through the circuit D F W I G R C as the initial resistance of this circuit is very high when using electrodes of high surface resistance or adjusting a small clearance between them. (In our experiments we found special advantages attached to electrode ma terials which have a hi h surface resistance. We experience difliculties in breaking down the initial resistance of such electrodes, which we have perfectly overcome by the devices of our invention.) Now we dimension the electro-magnetic device, W with the armature O so that at the moment a current flows in the circuit D F W 0 Z N R C the armature with the contact Z is attracted. At the moment the flow of current is interrupted by the separation of the contacts, a. super-tension is produced in this circuit owing to the inductance of the electro-magnetic device W and in cases also to a separate inductance such as in this case F which weuse to augment the effect. Now the super-tension produces discharges between the electrodes 9, which discharges, either pierce any high resistance coating that may have formed on the opposing surfaces of the electrodes (hitherto herein termed surface resistance of the electrodes) or jump the space between; or, again they may both pierce such coatings and jump the space, if any, between the electrodes at the same time. The gap, after such a spark has passed through, will be ionized and a strong current, which was at the beginning cut off by the high resistance in the electrode circuit, will be able to flow through the circuit D F W1 GR C.

During the flow of current in the circuit DFWIGRC the armature O is attracted and the contacts Z and N do not touch each other. At the moment the current starts flowing through the generator circuit D F W I G R C the equilibrating' device starts to act. In this case the equilibrator consists of an armature I to which one electrode of the spark-gap G has been afiixed, whereas the other electrode is separately mechanically fixed. The element I is arranged under any suitable spring control so as to prevent variation in the width of the gap which would ensue from the passage of current therethrough if no regulating device were used. This armaturewe have arranged to move in the field of the electro-magnet W and the electrode, being fixed to the armature, follows all movements of the armature.

The movement of the aforesaid armature,

we have restricted within certain limits by a device of springs or through gravity to perform, together with the electromagnetic device, the following desired. effect: We make the movement of the armature in a certain proportion to the current flowing in the spark-gap, when anoscillation circuit G M H G is connected to the spark-gap. In this oscillation circuit H is a con denser, M an inductance and G a sparkgap. For utilizingoscillations produced in the circuit G M H G--:w connect to it by induction a secondary. scillation circuit such as A L T E,lin -'which A is an aerial device, L an inductance used to couple the inductances M and L, and T amicrophone and E an earth connection, an arrangement which is in use in wire less telephony and telegraphy.

We have adjusted our equilibrator, consisting of the device before-mentioned, to be" influenced by the current flowing, so as to always keep the tension across the electrodes constant, the charging of the condenser and therefore the high frequency energy produced also showing then no fluctuations. By the use of an equilibrator we specially eliminate fluctuations of the energy which would be caused by deformation of the electrodes changing the clearance and the resistance of the gap or by fluctuations of the feeding current and by fluctuations in the energy drawn from the spark-gap by the oscillation circuit. These and other causes of disturbance in the even production of oscillations are by no means eliminated by our inven-' tion, but it is the essential feature of our invention that bad eifects following such disturbances are successfully neutralized or masses we can also combine a whole number of the afore-mentioned devices in multiple pairs of electrodes producing the same favorable re sults. Also the aforementioned example of the electrical connections of the devices of our invention can be varied according to the condition to be fulfilled.

"Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention. and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare what we claim is 1. Apparatus for generating high frequency oscillations comprising, in combination, a source of current, an oscillation circuit having capacity and inductance, means for producing a high frequency gap, means for breaking down the initial non-conducting condition of said gap, consisting of an electro-magnetic device for making and breaking current flow around saidinductive circuit for the purpose of producing a transient supertension across the oscillation gap when said gap is non-conducting or highly resisting, thereby precipitating the discharge across the gap, and means for regulating said gap to equilibrate the discharge to produce very constant oscillations, sub stantially as described. I

2. Apparatus for generating high frequency oscillation comprising in combination, a source of current, anoscillation circuit having capacity and inductance, selfacting means for producing a high frequency gap, means for breaking down the initial non-conducting condition of said gap consisting of an electromagnetic device for making and breaking current flow around said"inductive circuit, so connected and operated by the current from the source of supply that a transient supertension is automatically produced across the oscillation gap when said gap is non-conducting or highly resisting, thereby precipitating the discharge across the gap, and means for regulating said gap to equilibrate the discharge to produce very constant oscillations, substantiallyas described. 7

3. Apparatus for generating high frequency oscillations comprising, incombina tion, a source of current, an oscillation circuit having capacity and inductance, means for producing a high frequency oscillation gap, means for regulating said gap to equilibrate the discharge and means for breaking down the initial non-conducting condition of said gap consisting of an electromagnetic device the construction being such that the dual function of precipitating the passageof current across the oscillation gap and the regulating of the gap is vested in one and the same electromagnet', substantially as described.

4. Apparatus for generating high frequency oscillations comprising,- in combina tion, a source of current, an oscillation circuit having capacity and inductance, means for producing a high frequency oscillation gap, means for equilibrating the discharge across said gap and means for breaking down the initial non-conducting condition of said gap consisting of an electromagnetic device the construction being such that the dual function of precipitating the passage of current across the oscillation gap and the equilibrating of the discharge is vested in one and the same electromagnet, either the one or the other of said means being capable of being used alone, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WIOHI TORIKATA. i EITARO YOKOYAMA. ,MASAJIRO KITAMURA.

Witnesses UHAGHI IsHIWARA,

Romano AOYAMA. 

